"I am ready to cooperate with distinguished UVCE alumni like Dr M R Srinivasan (former AEC Chairman) and Dr V K Aatre (former DRDO Director General) and will take up with the Prime Minister the issue of upgrading it to an Institute of Technology and a Centre of Excellence," he said in his keynote address at UVCE reunion here.
Stating that excellence in education is fundamental to the development of any nation, Moily said one has to guard against "obsolescence of the mind".
"Institutions like UVCE which impart quality education should'nt become obsolete and must innovate," he said.
He described knowledge as a vehicle to achieve economic and social freedom "which is as important as political freedom".
Pointing to the severe paucity of qualified manpower in higher education, Moily said higher education must remain both affordable and accessible to all.
Earlier Vice-Chancellor Bangalore University N Prabhu Dev requested Moily to take up the issue of upgradation of UVCE to an Institute of Technology with the Centre, over which a proposal has already been submitted.
He said Bangalore University had also requested Bangalore Development Authority to allot about 1,000 acres in the green belt area to establish a Knowledge City, which would include a nano technology park and could also house the Institute of Technology Karnataka, mooted by UVCE.